We are in the middle of a pandemic and you are pregnant. When you hear that there is a chance your partner can not attend the birth of your child and/or it's difficult for your partner to visit you after you have given birth, you'll tend do anything to prevent not being with them because birth is something you want to do together. There aren't many options during a pandemic but an at home birth is a great alternative.
When you give birth in a hospital during a pandemic
You are giving birth (low-risk) in a hospital in the middle of a pandemic. Your partner can't be there, staff are taking extra precautions, nurses and midwives are less engaged due to the fact they can not touch you to reassure you that everything is fine, everything will feel much more clinical. This is not ideal for you to give birth or for your body to start birth.
What you need when you are giving birth is a warm, calm and supportive environment. You needs to feel safe and cared for. All this barely works in a hospital during a pandemic especially when your partner (and), your support person are not allowed to be with you.
When you give birth at home during a pandemic
When you are giving birth at home you are in your own calm, safe, warm and supported environment. Your partner is with you and you can choose to have your support person there. Your midwife still needs to stay at a safe distance but at least now you are in your own environment. You don't need support in relaxing because you are already in your own home. You don't need the extra care because you are not in a clinical environment. Doesn't this sound much more calm and healthier already? In this report you can read how much difference it can make to have a support person by your side during labour.
There is no normal at the moment
To give birth in this pandemic is everything besides what used to be "normal". The old "normal" is not there anymore and the whole world is in a state of change. Have you thought about what you want? What you want during your labour is very important and even though you can not imagine what labour is like, you can already prepare for what you want to have happen, such as the environment you will give birth in. Contact your obstetrician to see what is possible and what might have changed during this pandemic. For more information about home births you can visit these Australian sites.
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